A Capacity to Love

12. The Trigger

Severus made it as far as the staircase dueling Death Eaters. By this time, he had already taken down four alone. He was angry. Angrier than he had been in a long time. This feeling so strong inside of him just further proved what he already knew. He really did love Piper. And he was mad at the world because she was gone.

He took down another opponent with a powerful stunning spell and then rushed back into the Great Hall. It was where the majority of the battle was taking place. There were bodies lying everywhere. Some were Death Eaters, some were not. The sight sickened him. He scanned the battle carefully, searching for someone who might need his help. He spotted Minerva and Flitwick dueling a couple of Death Eaters together. Neville Longbottom was dueling someone on his own as well as Luna Lovegood. Ginny Weasley narrowly missed a Killing Curse cast by someone he hadn't seen. He was desperately searching for Ron and Hermione. He had promised Harry to look after them. Then his eyes settled on a Death Eater who was sneaking up behind Minerva McGonagall. Snape's eyes widened. He knew she would kill her if given half the chance.

"Dont even think about it, Bellatrix!" he shouted rushing toward her. He threw a spell at her. Bellatrix countered it.

Minerva saw him, finished off the Death Eater she was fighting, and whirled around to see what he was yelling at. Bellatrix was right behind her, her wand drawn. She turned to face her.

"You coward! How dare you try to take me from behind!" Minerva exclaimed. "If you want to fight, do it face to face."

"Old fool!" Bellatrix snapped.

"You play too much with your prey, Bella," Snape said coldly.

"Are you going to talk or fight, traitor?"

He scowled. "Fight."

The battle between them began. Minerva took a step back. Severus had saved her life. It amazed her just how much things had changed in the last week. When she was sure he didn't need her anymore, she ran off to help someone else. Severus and Bellatrix dueled for a few long minutes before he stunned her. She flew back against the wall with a thud. She slumped down, unconscious.

"That ought to hold her for a while," he mused.

She came to when he turned his back and scrambled off to make trouble for someone else.

Severus began looking for someone else to rescue. It made him feel good to finally get a grasp on things. Taking evil down one by one. It was what he felt he had always been meant to do. The one he really wanted to find and help was Harry, but he had no idea where to even start looking for him.

"Severus!"

He turned around and Minerva was rushing toward him.

"What is it, Minerva?"

"Nothing's wrong. Just catching my breath. I'm an old woman, you know. I just wanted to ask you where Piper was. I haven't seen her. I wanted to make sure she was okay."

A wave of sadness washed over him. "She's not okay." He couldn't even bring himself to say her name. He sighed wearily. "She's dead."

Her eyes widened and her hands flew over her mouth. "Oh no. I am so sorry."

"So am I." Tears began to form in his eyes again and spill down his cheeks, but he swatted them away.

"She will always be with you, Severus."

"I wish I would have never met her," he mumbled.

"Severus! That's a horrible thing to say!"

He frowned, disgusted with himself. It wasn't true. He didn't wish that at all. "I know. I'm sorry. I just- I'm feeling so guilty. If she had never met me then she would be alive. She tried to save me and she died."